Snookers charity poker in Utica under investigation by gaming commission

Snookers Pool and Pub owner Don Wawrzyniak recently found out the state was investigating the charity poker games he holds at his thriving business in Utica.

Until they're done, the games are over.

Wawrzyniak said he has not been told what the gaming control board is investigating or how long it will be.

"The state is holding us up and they don't give a time limit," he said. "The have all the power to do it and there is no due process. It is totally up them."

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The charity poker tournaments are set up so that Snookers' workers handle the cards at the poker table and the volunteers sell chips and cash them in when the players are through. Volunteers get half the pot.

Director Rick Kalm of the Michigan Gaming Control Board, when reached, refused comment to The Voice. Wawrzyniak had another meeting scheduled with Kalm on Wednesday, but the Marine City resident still didn't expect to be given any timelines.

"It's a shame because there are so many businesses struggling out there and we're doing well," he said.

Poker tables for each weekend are booked up well ahead of time. Wawrzyniak said staying open without the poker games in operation would not generate enough profit to keep the place going.

Marine City Chamber of Commerce president Georgia Phelan, while explaining how successful the chamber was in 2012 at the annual chamber membership dinner, said the loss of revenue from Snookers would be felt pretty hard and would require some ingenuity.

"We were hoping that they would open back up because it was a part of our budget and a lot of our community organizations as well, so this is going to hit us in the pocketbook a little bit," she said. "We'll be reviewing the budget for the next year because of this change, so you might be able to look forward to helping with a fundraiser."

Marine City Music Festival, Inc. Chair Judy White has been using Snookers for five years and was very distressed to see it close.

"We have been making the complete seed money for the festival events at Snookers," she said. "We don't charge very much for admission and we want to keep it that way."

She was fortunate to secure a weekend at another business, River Charity Poker, the end of February, when a client cancelled for that day. White has applied for a license for the weekend, but she's not sure she'll have time to obtain it now. She's not expecting any breaks on her licensing.

"The Liquor Control Commission and the State Gaming Control Commission tend to run things by the book," she said.

She understood from talking with different officials that the establishment would probably be closed until at least March 17. She had applied for slots in a February, March, April and May weekend.

White said more than the charities and the owners of Snookers will be adversely affected by the closing: the customers also enjoy coming to Snookers for a fun night out.

"Wawrzyniak is a perfect host at the events, calling customers by name, shaking their hand," said White. "They like to come to Don's."

A number of other local non-profits, from school groups to civic organizations, also have held charity card events at the Hall Road facility. Some have found other venues while many have seen a steady revenue stream put on hold indefinitely.